"Welcome to Charles County" Sign Destroyed in Crash

On May 10 at 7:32 p.m., a 1998 Plymouth van was traveling south on Indian Head Highway into Charles County from the Prince George's County border when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and struck the "Welcome to Charles County" sign, completely destroying it. The driver, Michael Doro Batoon, 25, of Bryans Road, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Prince George's Hospital Center. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Officer W. Christian is investigating.